Artificial leg



(No Model.)

P. M. WOLF. ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Patented Sept. 19, 1882.

8 M H W lNVE/VTOR I Peter M. my By 23 Attorney C J,

n. PETERS. PhuXo-Lithng mm m ngton. n c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER M. WOLF, OF CORYELL'TEXAS.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,812, datedSeptember 19, 1852,

I Application filed June 3, 1882 (No model) T 0 all whom it may concernBe it known that I, PETER M. ,WOLF, a citizen of the United States,residing at Goryell city, in the county of Ooryell and State of Texas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Legs;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in certain improvements in the construction andarrangement of parts in artificial legs, so as to make them moredurable, easier of repair, and more comfortable to the wearer, as willbe hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims, anddescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similarletters of referenceindicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a sectional view illustratingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the sole of the foot, showingtoe-spring and arrangements for taking up the wear of the parts. Fig. 3shows the ankle-joint in detail.

The leg A is formed of two sections of'wood or similar material, and hasthe metal band B around it at top, which is in this case just below theknee; and said band has two ears, b, which are fitted with pieces b, ofsteel, curved as shown, and secured to leather bandage U and joined toears b by means of rod T, so as to form the knee-joint. The leg A isconnected to foot 0 by means of a flexible joint composed of the twoplates 0 0, having conical sockets therein, and the rod D, formed withthe double conical head P,the bases of the cones placed together, so asto keep the rod at all times in the same place in spite of wear andjarring. The rod D has shoulders d, which rest on washer e and allowsaid rod to be tightly secured to the foot by nut e.

The foot is constructed in three parts-the heel-piece E, toe-piece F,and instep G-in order that the parts may be singly removed for repair orreplacement. The heel-piece E is provided with the guardH to keep theboot out of the rear of the ankle-joint, and is re cess'ed on its underside to give space for adjusting screw and nut e. The toe-piece F ishinged to piece E by a concave and convex hinge, h, held in position byrods 9 9, provided piece E, and is large enough to allow a wrench to beintroduced for thepurpose of tightening orremovingsaid nuts. When theyareremoved the piece F can be separated without disturhing other parts.Under the sole'of the foot, in a suitable groove or recess, is placedthe flat metal spring K, which is secured to the piece E in front ofchamber J, and extends across toe-hinge h. Its end rests against theplate K, placed across the ballof the foot, which gives an ample bearingto the spring, and with the least friction and noise brings thetoe-piece back to its position after each step. The spring andbearing-plate are secured by screws to the body of the pieces E and F,and are sufficiently countersunk to be even with the surroundingsurface. The removable instep-piece G forms at once a guard to keep theclothing out of the toe and front of ankle-joints, gives access to. theparts, and completes the shape of the foot.

- The ankle-joint is controlled by the force of the two springs L L,which are attached to a cross-bar, M, in the calf of the leg, and bymeans of the rodsN N they are hinged to the foot at O 0, and keep theconical head P at all times in position against its bearing-plate, andso preventjarring and noise. The said springs are to be adjusted withreference to the normal position of the foot so that when raised fromthe ground they will bring it into position to begin the next step. Theleg A is formed in two pieces, and may be constructed of wood or similarmaterial, and should have a covering of rawhide, whichwill securethe twoparts together and increase the strength of the limb without adding muchto the weight thereof.

The lower end of the leg is provided with the metal band B, surroundingthe portion that is recessed to accommodate the ankle-joint; a washer,p, of rubber or leather, should be placed in the said recess below thelower plate, (3, of the said joint, which washer should project slightlybelow the band B to form a cushion between the leg and foot. The partsbeing removable, the washer p is easily replaced when worn.

The holes through which the rodsN N pass, both in the leg and foot, aswell as in the lower hinge-plate, O, are made large enough toallow somelateral motion, and thus provide for the 5 necessary flexibility of theparts, the cushion or washer 19 serving to prevent thumping or jarringand noise.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

1. In an artificial limb, the socket-plates O 0, rod D, having head Pand shoulders d, the foot E F G, provided with hinge h and spring K, thecross-bar M, springs L L, and

15 rods N N, as shown and described.

2. In an artificial leg, the heel-piece E, provided with spring K, incombination With the adjustably-hinged toe-piece F, provided with plateK, and the adjustable instep-piece G,

PETER M. WOLF.

Witnesses:

G. A. CRAWFORD, A. E. PETTIGREW.

